Web tensioning apparatus



g- 2, 1931- I 'r. E. PHYTHIAN 1,869,614

WEB TENSIONING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 10, 1930 1 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 2, 1932.

T. F. PHYTHIAN WEB TENS-IONING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 10, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Jttorney El PHYTHIAN 1,869,514

WEB TENSIONING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 10. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.3.

Inventor Patented Aug. 2, 1932 PATENT 'GF'FICLE THOMAS ART PHYTHIAN, F HEADINGLEY, LEEDS, ENGLAND wnn :rnusronrne errnnn'rus Application filed January 10, 1930, Serial 'No. 419,959, and in Great "Britain January -19, 1929.

This invention relates to web tensioning apparatus specially applicable for the feeding of a web from-a roll stand magazine to :a rotary printing press. l

The roll stand magazine is usually driven by a motor under remotecontro l. it is, however, well-known that :as a roll or reel of paper decreases in diameter the normal tension necessary mustbe obtained by a reduction of the brakingetiort and that'this braking effort should be reduced at the-same rate as the reduction of the diameter of :thezroll or reel. It is therefore desirable that this operation shouldgbe automatically performed.

The invention has accordingly for one of its objects to effect the automatic variation of the braking effort or resistance to unreeling of the Web as the diameter of the roll or reel is reduced.

According to the invention, moreover, selective mechanism "is employed which is adapted intermittently to operate pus'h button switches or the like whereby the motor is operated by which the roll stand magazine is moved in one direction orthe-other according to the tension of the web. 7

According to the invention, moreover, means are provided such for example as an endless belt whereby the web tension is varied on the operation of the selective mechanism in the manner described.

According to the invention, moreover,

means are provided for the manual :control of the amount of normal tension on the web in addition to the automaticcontrol in the manner described.

The invention comprises the features of construction and method hereinafter described. r I

A construction of web-tensioning apparatus according to the invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

Figure 1 is a diagram in elevationof aplant in which the invention is shown applied. 7

Figure 2 is a View in elevation, to an enlarged scale, ofthe selective mechanism.

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the pivoted frame of the selective mechanism.

Figure 4L is a'detail plan view in illustration of the cams provided "for the control of the position of the roll carrier, as hereinafter described.

in carrying the invention into efi'ect according to the construction illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in its application, tor-example, to a three-rollstand magazine, the automatic mechanism may advantageously be set in positionimmediately over the roll-stand magazine a andan-end'less belt b may be so set upon and between two -pi'tl leys 17 b one of which is conveniently disposed overhead that contact between the driven belt b and oneof the rolls or reels -0 may take place on the underside or near the lower end of the driven belt 19 as the reel -or rolls is raised in a clockwise direction, it being understood that the same reel 0 may move out of contact with the lower part or underside of the driven belt 6 on the movement of the roll stand frame in an anti-clockwise direction and that the movement of the roll or reel 0 may be effected automatically as hereinafter described from an electric motor in gear with the rotating ii-rame of the roll-stand. One of the pulleys 6 ,6 advantageously 'Z)' -is driven at a peripheral speed slightly less than tn-at of the type cylinder, and the pulleys are so mounted that the belt may swing about the pulley If.

The 'web from the roll or reel 0 so disposed in a lower position at the :rear of -:the roll stand passes upwardly into a position adjacent :the underside of the endless driven belt Y) thence over a stationary guide roller and thence over a pair of juxtaposed station-ary guide rollers e,'e betweenwhich:a :moyable tension roller f is set in a position above and adapted to move under the varying'tension of the web npwardly'or down- "wa-rdly, Thus, :the web passes under the first stationary guide roller e of the pair referred to, thence upwardly over the movable tens-ion roller 7 and thence downwardly and under the second rollere of thexpaintheweb thence passing upwardly or otherwise :on its way to the first printing couple, it being understood that the web :passes around :the second roller 6 of the pair of stationary rollers with :a considerable amount of lap and advantageously over half or more than half the circumference of the roller.

The spindle f of the tension roller f is adapted to be supported within sliding blocks or bearings f at each end of the roller which are adapted to be supported beneath by vertically disposed helical springs f, the lower ends of the springs respectively being conveniently supported by vertically disposed rods the lower ends of which are screw-threaded, the respective rods being carried at the ends of arms 9 of symmetrical form and position near the ends of a transversely disposed spindle g set conveniently adjacent or beneath the tension roller or beneath the second roller 6 and which spindle by the means hereinafter described is adapted to be partly rotated by reason of the movement imparted to the tension roller f under the varying tension of the web and is also adapted to be adjusted on the operation of a motor, that is by the means hereinafter described for regulation of the tension of the web.

At the end of the spindle e of the second guide roller 6 a worm e is mounted, adapted to engage with a worm wheel 72, set upon the end of a transverselydisposed spindle it carried in a bracket mounted upon the frame of the press and at whose opposite end a cam k is mounted in whose cam groove a runner or roller k is set that is carried by a forked arm h, the upper end or fork of -which embraces a collar adjacent the cam and the lower end of which passes with clearance through a swivel block if carried by an arm '5 secured to a spindle i rotatably mounted in the said bracket. A. spring 72, is confined between the block b and a nut k at the lower extremity of the arm hi. A frame j comprises two rearwardly extending bosses in alignment, by which the frame is secured upon the spindle i, and two symmetrical outwardly extending arms 9' carrying at their ends bearing bosses in alignment by which a control spindle is is carried. On this spindle two runners or discs 70 having flat peripheries are mounted in determined positions and so spaced apartthat one half of the width of each lies normally in contact with the lower ends respectively of a corresponding pair of vertically disposed plungers 1 Z suitably carried in bosses mounted upon the bracket by which the worm wheel k and cam spindle h are carried or upon some other stationary part, the respective pairs of plungers being connected at their upper ends by means of a lever Z pivoted in a central position. The pair of plungers referred to have mounted over them a pair of push button switches m m which are connected through the usual starter to the motor m driving the roll stand magazine through a pinion m and gear wheel m, the operation being such that on the lateral displacement of the runners or discs referred to one plunger does notmake contact with the periphery of the corresponding runner or disc and on the upward movement of the pivoted frame the other plunger of the pair is caused to rise and by reason of the lever connection the plunger first referred to moves downward. In this way one or the other of the pair of push button switches is actuated. It will be understood that in the normal position of the control spindle in which both runners or discs I0 70 are in contact with the plungers Z Z the lever Z prevents the rise of the control spindle and the upward movement of the formed arm 72. serves merely to compress the spring if.

It will be understood that the downwardly extending rods f by which the movable tension roller 7" is supported in the manner hereinbefore described are respectively provided with adjusting screws or nuts by which connection is made with the automatically operated mechanism and by which the relation of the respective rods in the arms by which they are carried may be adjusted. The arms 9 last referred to are normally horizontally disposed and are extended beyond the spindle carrying them or an arm or arms it provided in opposite position which may be weighted. The spindle g however is provided with a normally upstanding arm 0 and a normally depending arm or lever p. The upstanding arm 0 is so provided that its upper end is disposed near the end of the cam actuated control spindle is carried by the pivoted frame 7 j in such manner that the spindle 70 may have movement imparted toit from the arm by means of a connection which is advantageously an elastic connection, as, for example, by the use of opposed helical springs 0 mounted near the end of the spindle is, the opposed springs abutting against a member 0 having an annular channel or groove in which is received a pin 0 carried by the upstanding arm 0. The depending arm Q9 mounted upon the spindle g is connected at its lower end to a swivel nut 77 in which is carried a screw-threaded spindle g on the opposite end of which a worm wheel is mounted which is driven by a worm g from a small electric motor 9 A helical spring g is mounted upon the spindle 9 between a support for the spindle adjacent the worm wheel and a nut or collar 9 mounted upon thespindle so that thus the spindle is i normally thrust outwards towards the arm 79.

It will be understood that the rolls or reels of paper are carried as is usual by and between symmetrical frame parts a carried by supporting frames or standards a at each end and that movement is imparted to the rotating frame thus constituted from the automatically operated motor m as hereinbefore described, advantageously through a worm and worm wheel drive m".

011 the cam operated spindle is a-solenoid or magnet r is mounted and helical springs are advantageously provided between the bosses of the respective runners or discs c [13 which are set on the spindle at each side of the solenoid or magnet 1".

It will be understood that in the operation of the mechanism, should the tension on the web be so great that the tension roller f is brought to a lower position than the normal, the movement of the arm or arms 9 connected to the respective rods f disposed beneath the pivoted frame j which is now possible on the operation of the cam 77/2 will cause the lefthand runner or disc 76 to transmit movement to theleft-hand plunger Z the upper end of which causes the operation of thecorresponding push button switch m by which the circuit to the motor m is closed through the usual starter, it being understood that connection is so made that the motor rotates in such a direction that the roll stand frame a rotates in a forward or anti-clockwise direction. By

this movement contact between the roll or reel 0 and the driven belt 6 is effected at such a position that the tension is decreased to such an extent that the tension roller f may resume its normal position.

Should the tension on the web, however, not be sufficient to allow the tension roller to maintain its normal position, opposite movements to those described are secured and an upward movement imparted to the righthand plunger Z instead of to the left-hand plunger Z by which contact is made with a push button switch m for reverse movement of the roll stand frame a the switch closing the circuit to the motor on and through the usual starter, the connections being so made that the motor rotates in such direction that the roll stand frame rotates in a clockwise direction. In this reverse movement the po siticn of contact between the roll or reel and the driven belt is brought so much nearer to the point of suspension of the belt I) that the braking effort'is increased and the tension of the web brought to normal whereby the tension roller f may then resume its normal position.

It will be understood that the driven belt being of a determined weight grea er effort will be necessary to support it at aposition nearer to the axis of suspension than would be required at a position further away.

A push button switch 8 is advantageously provided for remote control, through the usual starter, of the circuit of the small motor g hereinbefore referred to by which longitudinal movement is imparted to the screwthreaded spindle 9 through the worm g and the worm wheel 9 whereby the compression of the helical control spring g mounted upon the spindle is either increased or decreased. By such means the tension of the spring f supporting the tension roller f may be varied or regulated, should the normal tension of the web require Variations, as, for example, by reason of the use of a different thickness, weight or quality of paper.

A cam plate m corresponding to each roll or reel may be attached to the large gear wheel m of the roll stand frame a in such position that at the loading station the neces sary height of the reel spindle carrier is obtained when. contact is made by the corresponding cam plate with a push button device t connected in the circuit with the solenoid or magnet r hereinbefore referred to, this push button device also being thus connected to the mains and to the solenoid or magnet. On the circuit being closed the solenoid or magnet is energized so that each of the runners or discs 1%, is attracted and thus in that position of the runners or discs k it'' they are out of alignment with the respective plunger-sl Z and thus on the upward movementof the pivoted frame the circuit of the motor m is not closed for the operation of the reel or roll magazine.

lit will furthermore be understood that the invention is not limited to the actual mechanism which is hereinbefore specifically de scribed as the same eliects and the same meth 0d of control may be carried out by other constructions of mechanism without departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. In a rotary web-printing press a roll stand magazine, an endless belt web-tensioning device, set to engage the supply roll in use on the roll stand magazine, a reversible motor for turnin the roll stand magazine to control the web tension,a floating roller over which the web passes, positively operating switches for determining the operation and direction of rotation of the said motor, and a selective mechanism controll ng the said switches, the said selective mechanism including a control spindle of adjustable position and a connection between said spindle and said floating roller, whereby said spindle is moved in response to movements of the floating roller. v

2. In a rotary web-printing press, a roll stand magazine, an endless belt Web-tensioning device set to engage the supply roll in use, on the roll stand magazine, a reversible motor for turning the roll stand to control the web tension, a pair of positively acting controlling switches for determining the operation and direction of rotation of the said motor, co-operating and oppositely movable plungers for controlling said switches, an oscillatable and longitudinally movable control spindle, plunger operating elements supported upon. said control spindle, a webdriven cam oscillating the control spindle, a floating roller over which the web passes, and lever mechanism connected with the said roller and longitudinally moving the oscillatory spindle.

3. In a rotary web-printing press provided as set forth in claim 2, an oscillatable frame supporting the control spindle, a camoperated element elastically connected with and oscillating said frame, parallel disposed switch controlling plungers, a lever pivotally mounted between said plunger-s and coupled therewith whereby said plungers are constrained for opposite movement, and plungeroperating elements mounted upon the control spindle and adapted to move one or the other of the plungers except in the mid position of the control. spindle.

4. In a rotary web-printing press provided according to claim 2, a spindle transverse to the path of the Web, arms upon said spindle carrying the floating roller, arms upon said spindle adapted to impart longitudinal movement to the control spindle, counter weight arms upon said spindle, and arms upon the said spindle to which is applied a force in opposition to the force supporting the floating roller.

5. In a rotary web-printing press, provided according to claim 2, means for sup porting the floating roller comprising helical springs and supporting spindles, levers supporting said spindles about an axis transverse to the path of the Web, an adjusting spindle for the said levers, a reversible electromotor adapted to actuate the said adjusting spindle, and switches controlling the said electromotor from a distance.

6. In a rotary web-printing press,a roll stand magazine comprising a fixed frame and a rotatable carrier with multiple axes for supply rolls, an endless belt web-tensioning device set to engage the supply roll in use,

I a reversible motor for o cratin the roll stand magazine to control the webtension, a pair of positively acting controlling switches for determining the operation and direction of rotation of the said motor, co-operating and oppositely movable plungers for controlling said switches, an oscillatable and longitudinally movable control spindle, magnetically attractive plunger-operating elements slidably supported upon said control spindle, stops determining the normal posit-ion of the said plunger-operating el ments, a solenoid upon said spindle to attract the said 

